"Games are going to be close," said Suns coach Alvin Gentry. "We're not going to be up seven and then up 20. That's just not going to happen."

Holiday had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career triple-double for the 76ers, who are 2-7 in the second half of back-to-back games. Wright and Thaddeus Young had 14 points apiece for Philadelphia.

"I thought that once the third quarter started and they got a little bit of a lead, I thought they had control of the game," said 76ers coach Doug Collins. "We looked up and we had a chance but we never came up with a big rebound."

The Suns played the second half without backup point guard Sebastian Telfair, who was shut down after halftime with soreness in his left knee.

Phoenix led by seven after the first but quickly fell into its normal second-quarter lull. Nick Young had a pair of 3-pointers and Wright added five points as the 76ers outscored the Suns 17-6 to start the period and open a 41-37 lead.

But it was Philadelphia that came out cold in the second half. Scola had consecutive baskets and Jared Dudley added a 21-foot jumper to key an 8-2 run that put the Suns ahead 56-51 with 9:38 left in the third quarter.

Lavoy Allen cut the lead to 60-59 on a 19-footer with 6:34 left in the period but the 76ers could pull no closer.

"I think tonight we turned the ball over when we didn't need to," Holiday said. "I can say I did. And the loose balls we needed to get, we didn't do that."

Game notes

Scola has scored 20 or more in three straight games. ... Phoenix has won five of its past seven at home. . The Sixers are six games into a season-high, eight-game holiday road trip. ... Phoenix beat Philadelphia for the first time since February 24, 2010. ... Dragic had a career-high three blocks, as many as the 76ers as a team. . More than 1,200 Kansas State fans, in town for Thursday's Fiesta Bowl against Oregon, were in the arena and were chanting for former Wildcat Michael Beasley to enter the game. They also booed Suns forward Markieff Morris, who played at Kansas.

Research Notes

Jrue Holiday recorded his second career triple-double (16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) Wednesday against the Suns. His other triple-double came on Feb. 2, 2011 against the Nets (11 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists).